Dodgers beat Cubs to reach World Series

Los Angeles reaches first World Series since 1988

Chase Utley #26 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the clubhouse after defeating the Chicago Cubs 11-1 in game five of the National League Championship Series at Wrigley Field on October 19, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. The Dodgers advance to the 2017 World Series. (Jamie Squire/2017 Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Chicago Cubs in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series Thursday night to reach their first World Series in 29 years.
 
With the 11-1 win at Wrigley Field, the Dodgers won the series 4-1 to knock the defending champion Cubs out of the playoffs and avenge their 2016 NLCS loss to Chicago.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw allowed three hits over six innings and struck out five to get the win. He held the Cubs hitless until the fourth inning, when Kris Bryant connected for a solo home run.

Recommended Videos



On the other side of the ball, Enrique Hernandez powered the Dodgers with three home runs, including a grand slam that broke the game wide open in the third inning. Becoming only the fourth player with a three-homer game in a league championship series, he went 3-for-4 overall with 7 RBIs and a walk.

Hernandez's seven RBI tied a MLB postseason record shared by four other players.

Left-hander Jose Quintana took the loss for the Cubs, allowing six earned runs while lasting just two innings.
 
The Dodgers, who won the National League West with a major-league best record of 104-58, had been perfect this postseason before the Cubs staved off elimination with a 3-2 win in Game 4 Wednesday night.
 
The Cubs were appearing in their third straight NLCS, having beat the Dodgers 4-2 last year to advance to the World Series and being swept by the New York Mets in 2015.
 
The Dodgers now await the winner of the American League Championship Series, with the New York Yankees leading the Houston Astros 3-2 going into Friday night's Game 6 at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
 
The 2017 World Series will mark the 19th World Series appearance by the Dodgers, including seven appearances and one championship before the franchise left Brooklyn following the 1957 season.
 
The team is 6-12 overall in its 18 previous World Series appearances, with the most recent coming in 1988, when the Dodgers beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1.